The Framingham-born and Milford-bred Colabello has chased a dream well past what most people might suggest. Give it a rest, young man.

That’s another thing. Colabello is old. OK, baseball old, at 29.

He’s with the Minnesota Twins, trying to make the big leagues after years spent at a great distance from that goal, like seven years playing for the now-defunct Worcester Tornadoes in the Can-Am Independent League.

Colabello, a powerful 6-feet-4 righthander, was having a good spring in the Twins’ Fort Myers camp, but he’s been excused while he plays for Italy in the World Baseball Classic.

"(Manager Ron) Gardenhire knew my main priority was to the Twins," said Colabello. "If their decision was for me to stay in camp, I would have. They just said, ‘We’ll be here when you get back.’ "

Colabello got his chance with the Twins when the organization felt its minor league rosters were thin. At Double-A New Britain last season, Colabello opened eyes by batting .284 with 19 home runs and 98 RBIs in 134 games. That earned him a pass to spring training. His hot-hitting has continued in the WBC.

The Twins are keeping tabs on Colabello from a distance. They couldn’t help noticing Colabello’s monster 4-for-5 game against Canada, including a three-run homer.

"It was awesome," said Colabello. After hitting a single, "I told my first base coach, ‘I feel I’m going to have a good game today.’ "

Since the WBC managers and coaches only have the players for a few weeks, they don’t tamper much with technique, and basically leave the major leaguers alone. Colabello isn’t at that level, so if Italy’s hitting coach Mike Piazza has something to say, Colabello’s all ears.

"Mike doesn’t do much with your mechanics," said Colabello. "It’s more about getting your mind right. Mike’s good at that. It’d be foolish not to hear what he has to say."

Sometimes it just takes a handful of words from Piazza to be helpful, like the day Italy played an exhibition game against the Oakland Athletics. "I was over-swinging a little bit," said Colabello. He was trying to do too much, Piazza thought. "Mike said, ‘Just tap it.’ "

Colabello tapped it over the fence for a home run.

Playing for Italy is a natural for Colabello. His father pitched and managed in the Italian League. Colabello went to elementary school in Italy. His mother was born in Italy. "She spoke Italian to me. My dad spoke English."

Colabello started to impress the Twins at spring training last year. Former Twins manager Tom Kelly was very helpful, and patient, with Colabello. At New Britain Colabello started to figure things out. Whether he makes the team out of spring training has yet to be determined. A lot of Twins personnel are pulling for him, but there’s still about three weeks to go.

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"I’m not sure what their plans for me are when I return," said Colabello. "I’m just trying to take everything in stride. Just focus on the present."

For Colabello, just to be in this position speaks to his drive.

"I always believed in my ability to play the game," he said. "I always believed someone would see me." Between the Italian team and the Twins, Colabello said, "If there was ever a time I’d like to be at two places at once, it’s now."

The WBC has been an unforgettable experience. Colabello is proud of his Italian heritage. Besides, how often do you get to play with a team on which most players’ names end in a vowel?

Italy, 2-1, plays the Dominican Republic Tuesday.

Playing for Italy has allowed Colabello to rub elbows with big leaguers like Cubs slugger and former Red Sox property Anthony Rizzo.

"A really good kid. I look forward to see him grow (as a player)," said Colabello. And ex-Sox utility guy Nick Punto. "A consummate pro. Tremendous person," said Colabello. "Not a lot of egos in this clubhouse."

The clubhouse he’d love to be in is the visiting team’s one at Fenway Park and hear his name announced in the starting lineup.